Rhode Island, 1999

High Wind and Strong Wind in Rhode Island, January 3, 1999

January 3, 1999 · NWS BOX · 14 events in 9 counties and zones

A developing low pressure system moving from the mid Atlantic states to southern New England brought strong southeast winds and heavy rain to Rhode Island. The highest winds were reported in Newport County, where gusts over 60 mph were observed.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
14

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.

A developing low pressure system moving from the mid Atlantic states to southern New England brought strong southeast winds and heavy rain to Rhode Island. The highest winds were reported in Newport County, where gusts over 60 mph were observed. Acquidnick Island Marina, with an open exposure to the south, reported a gust to 73 mph. Tiverton had a gust to 65 mph and small branches were blown down. A spotter in Portsmouth reported a gust to 63 mph. In Bristol County, a gust to 60 mph in Bristol blew a storm window off the side of a house. Some of the other higher gusts reported include 51 mph on Block Island and 46 mph in the city of Providence and at the Point Judith Coast Guard Station.Rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches were common, and much of that fell in a period of less than 12 hours. As much as 2.85 inches fell in Cumberland, with 2.80 inches in Clayville, 2.56 inches in Cranston, and 2.35 inches in downtown Providence. There were no reports of flooding.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 strong wind, 5 heavy rain, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Providence

When
January 3, 11:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Providence County, Providence
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Kent

When
January 3, 11:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Kent County, Coventry
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Bristol

When
January 3, 11:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Bristol County, Bristol
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Washington

When
January 3, 11:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Washington County, Westerly
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Newport

When
January 3, 11:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Newport County, Tiverton
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Northwest Providence

When
January 3, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Providence forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Bristol

When
January 3, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Bristol forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Kent

When
January 3, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Kent forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Newport

When
January 3, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Newport forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southeast Providence

When
January 3, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Providence forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Washington

When
January 3, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Kent

When
January 3, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Western Kent forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Newport

When
January 3, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Newport forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bristol

When
January 3, 3:30 PM EST
Where
Bristol forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Rhode Island in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, January 1999

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5683920, 5683921, 5683922, 5683923, 5683924, 5683925, 5683926, 5683927, 5683928, 5683929, 5683930, 5683931, 5683932, 5683933.